Laos has seen just over 42,000 arrivals in the first six months of this year, but experts predict the numbers to increase by a large margin by the end of the year.
The sluggish start to tourism was caused by a delayed reopening, with the country missing the mark as those in the northern hemisphere planned their summer holidays in advance.
Vientiane Times reports that a total of 42,197 foreign nationals entered Laos on tourist visas in the first six months of this year, with the highest numbers arriving in May and June after entry restrictions were lifted.
The average stay for these arrivals was 7.9 days, with spending averaging around USD 83 per person, according to the Tourism Development Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
This has generated revenue for the government at approximately USD 4.55 million.
Domestic tourism also increased, with more than 600,000 Lao people traveling within the country and spending an average of USD 45 per person over 2.5 days.
Most of the international arrivals came from Thailand, Vietnam, and a spattering of other ASEAN nations.
Surprisingly, only 144 tourists entered Laos from South Korea in the first six months of 2022, while Chinese visitors amounted to only 1,165 due to restrictions on outbound travel as China pursues its zero-Covid policy.
“In July, we saw Thai tourists arriving in unprecedented droves, spurred by proximity, the novelty of a high-speed railway, a strong Thai baht, and a rapid succession of long holiday weekends,” said Jason Rolan, a tourism consultant based in Laos.
And while Thai train tourists may not be a long-term or sustainable solution, it could shore up the industry until high season begins.
“There is another long Thai public holiday this week – the last for a few months. The furor for the train will likely die down eventually, and this future decline will only be hastened by problems in securing tickets for the railway,” says Jason.
And with the tourism high season fast approaching, the railway company should be full steam ahead in preparation for a renewed influx of trainspotters, this time from all over the world.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Thai-tourists-participate-in-a-morning-almsgiving-ceremony-in-Luang-Prabang-Photo-Ven.-Bounhao-Panyasouk-696x364-1.jpg364696Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2022-09-12 14:09:592022-09-12 14:10:05Tourism Sees Slow Start in Laos but Jump in July May Tip the Scales
With international borders recently reopened, high-volume domestic destinations such as Vang Vieng, which received an influx of domestic tourists during the pandemic, have begun to struggle.
Vang Vieng District Governor, Mr. Bounchan Malavong, said during an interview with Lao National Radio that despite an increase in visitors from South Korea and Thailand, the overall number of tourists arriving in Vang Vieng has fallen.
While in 2020, the Vientiane Province received some 261,000 visitors according to the 2020 Statistical Report on Tourism in Laos released by the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICT), the numbers could have increased in 2021.
In February this year, provincial authorities said that more than 3,000 domestic tourists were recorded visiting Vang Vieng every week following the relaxation of Covid measures.
And getting to Vang Vieng is now easier than ever, with the launch of the Laos-China Railway and the Vang Vieng Expressway providing greater convenience for those traveling to the tourist town.
At the same time, domestic tourists have turned to international destinations after spending almost three years locked in Laos.
“My family visited Vang Vieng several times over the last two years while our country was closed. Now I’d like to see something new,” one reader told the Laotian Times.
Reports from authorities at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge recorded 1,812 people entering Thailand on the second day of border relaxation.
“I couldn’t wait to get back to the big shopping mall at Udon Thani,” said another Vientiane resident.
“It is nice to make a family trip to Thailand where there is a greater variety of things to see and do. We can also fill up on fuel while we are there,” he noted.
Pakin Tiabkam, head of customs control at Nong Khai Customs House, told Thai media that some 30,000 foreigners crossed the Nong Khai border checkpoint into Thailand from 9-31 May.
Following the reopening of borders and resumption of flights, Laotians can now also access a number of regional cities from Vientiane Capital and Luang Prabang by air, including destinations such as Bangkok, Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
“Our family took our first trip to Phuket recently in over two years,” one expatriate told the Laotian Times in a phone interview.
“Vang Vieng is always a nice getaway but my children were thrilled to see the ocean again,” she said.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Vang-vieng-696x364-1.jpg364696Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2022-06-20 09:23:002022-06-14 12:25:56Domestic Tourists in Laos Lured Away by Renewed International Travel
Laos has announced an updated tourist visa fee structure following the full reopening of the country to tourism early this month.
A notice issued by the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, last week provides an update on the latest visa-on-arrival fees for tourists of different origins.
Visas provided on arrival for foreign nationals from all nationalities will be charged USD 40, except for Chinese and Vietnamese nationals, when applying for a tourist visa at an international checkpoint, according to the notice.
Chinese or Vietnamese citizens applying for a visa on arrival to Laos will be charged only USD 20.
The notice states that foreigners of Lao descent and their family members, or family members of Lao citizens who hold foreign citizenship, will also be charged USD 40 per person for a visa on arrival.
All international checkpoints are now open for entry and exit by Lao citizens, foreign residents, tourists, and other types of visitors.
Those wishing to visit Laos may apply for a visa at a Lao embassy or consulate abroad or via the e-Visa online system.
Visas on arrival have also been reinstated at major international checkpoints, such as the Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge and Wattay International Airport.
Tourism Sees Slow Start in Laos but Jump in July May Tip the Scales
Laos has seen just over 42,000 arrivals in the first six months of this year, but experts predict the numbers to increase by a large margin by the end of the year.
The sluggish start to tourism was caused by a delayed reopening, with the country missing the mark as those in the northern hemisphere planned their summer holidays in advance.
Vientiane Times reports that a total of 42,197 foreign nationals entered Laos on tourist visas in the first six months of this year, with the highest numbers arriving in May and June after entry restrictions were lifted.
The average stay for these arrivals was 7.9 days, with spending averaging around USD 83 per person, according to the Tourism Development Department of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
This has generated revenue for the government at approximately USD 4.55 million.
Domestic tourism also increased, with more than 600,000 Lao people traveling within the country and spending an average of USD 45 per person over 2.5 days.
Most of the international arrivals came from Thailand, Vietnam, and a spattering of other ASEAN nations.
Surprisingly, only 144 tourists entered Laos from South Korea in the first six months of 2022, while Chinese visitors amounted to only 1,165 due to restrictions on outbound travel as China pursues its zero-Covid policy.
But tourism began to pick up in July, however, with experts predicting a massive shift in arrival numbers after a surge in interest from neighboring Thailand.
“In July, we saw Thai tourists arriving in unprecedented droves, spurred by proximity, the novelty of a high-speed railway, a strong Thai baht, and a rapid succession of long holiday weekends,” said Jason Rolan, a tourism consultant based in Laos.
And while Thai train tourists may not be a long-term or sustainable solution, it could shore up the industry until high season begins.
“There is another long Thai public holiday this week – the last for a few months. The furor for the train will likely die down eventually, and this future decline will only be hastened by problems in securing tickets for the railway,” says Jason.
The Laos-China Railway Company recently admitted to poor management and a lack of operational readiness, promising to quickly improve its services and develop an online ticket reservation system.
And with the tourism high season fast approaching, the railway company should be full steam ahead in preparation for a renewed influx of trainspotters, this time from all over the world.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/08/09/tourism-sees-slow-start-in-laos-but-jump-in-july-may-tip-the-scales/
Domestic Tourists in Laos Lured Away by Renewed International Travel
With international borders recently reopened, high-volume domestic destinations such as Vang Vieng, which received an influx of domestic tourists during the pandemic, have begun to struggle.
Vang Vieng District Governor, Mr. Bounchan Malavong, said during an interview with Lao National Radio that despite an increase in visitors from South Korea and Thailand, the overall number of tourists arriving in Vang Vieng has fallen.
While in 2020, the Vientiane Province received some 261,000 visitors according to the 2020 Statistical Report on Tourism in Laos released by the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICT), the numbers could have increased in 2021.
In February this year, provincial authorities said that more than 3,000 domestic tourists were recorded visiting Vang Vieng every week following the relaxation of Covid measures.
And getting to Vang Vieng is now easier than ever, with the launch of the Laos-China Railway and the Vang Vieng Expressway providing greater convenience for those traveling to the tourist town.
However, Governor Bounchan says that economic problems and chronic fuel shortages have meant fewer domestic tourists have been making the trip to Vang Vieng in recent weeks.
At the same time, domestic tourists have turned to international destinations after spending almost three years locked in Laos.
“My family visited Vang Vieng several times over the last two years while our country was closed. Now I’d like to see something new,” one reader told the Laotian Times.
Reports from authorities at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge recorded 1,812 people entering Thailand on the second day of border relaxation.
“I couldn’t wait to get back to the big shopping mall at Udon Thani,” said another Vientiane resident.
“It is nice to make a family trip to Thailand where there is a greater variety of things to see and do. We can also fill up on fuel while we are there,” he noted.
Pakin Tiabkam, head of customs control at Nong Khai Customs House, told Thai media that some 30,000 foreigners crossed the Nong Khai border checkpoint into Thailand from 9-31 May.
Following the reopening of borders and resumption of flights, Laotians can now also access a number of regional cities from Vientiane Capital and Luang Prabang by air, including destinations such as Bangkok, Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
“Our family took our first trip to Phuket recently in over two years,” one expatriate told the Laotian Times in a phone interview.
“Vang Vieng is always a nice getaway but my children were thrilled to see the ocean again,” she said.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/06/08/domestic-tourists-in-laos-lured-away-by-renewed-international-travel/
Laos Announces Updated Tourist Visa Fees
Laos has announced an updated tourist visa fee structure following the full reopening of the country to tourism early this month.
A notice issued by the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, last week provides an update on the latest visa-on-arrival fees for tourists of different origins.
Visas provided on arrival for foreign nationals from all nationalities will be charged USD 40, except for Chinese and Vietnamese nationals, when applying for a tourist visa at an international checkpoint, according to the notice.
Chinese or Vietnamese citizens applying for a visa on arrival to Laos will be charged only USD 20.
The notice states that foreigners of Lao descent and their family members, or family members of Lao citizens who hold foreign citizenship, will also be charged USD 40 per person for a visa on arrival.
Laos announced a full reopening to tourism on 9 May allowing vaccinated arrivals to enter the country without any testing requirements.
All international checkpoints are now open for entry and exit by Lao citizens, foreign residents, tourists, and other types of visitors.
Those wishing to visit Laos may apply for a visa at a Lao embassy or consulate abroad or via the e-Visa online system.
Visas on arrival have also been reinstated at major international checkpoints, such as the Laos-Thailand Friendship Bridge and Wattay International Airport.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2022/05/25/laos-announces-updated-tourist-visa-fees/